Connect and Conquer: Collectivized Behavior of Mitochondria and Bacteria

Abstract

The connectedness of signaling components in network structures is a universal feature of biologic information processing. Such organization enables the transduction of complex input stimuli into coherent outputs and is essential in modulating activities as diverse as the cooperation of bacteria within populations and the dynamic organization of mitochondria within cells. Here, we highlight some common principles that underpin collectivization in bacteria and mitochondrial populations and the advantages conferred by such behavior. We discuss the concept that bacteria and mitochondria act as signal transducers of their localized metabolic environments to bring about energy-dependent clustering to modulate higher-order function across multiple scales.

Network analysis of Arabidopsis mitochondrial dynamics reveals a resolved tradeoff between physical distribution and social connectivity

“…Logan et al (Logan and Leaver, 2000) also highlighted the heterogeneity in mitochondrial populations, with variations in size, shape, distribution, and speed of mitochondria. This dynamic motion of individuals, when taken together, leads to complex collective behaviors, emerging from the encounters between individual organelles (Williams and George, 2019). These collective behaviors can be viewed as reflecting the ''social'' dynamics of the population, where encounters between individuals constitute links in a dynamic social network.…”

“…This dynamic motion of individuals, when taken together, leads to complex collective behaviors, emerging from the encounters between individual organelles ( Williams and George, 2019 ). These collective behaviors can be viewed as reflecting the “social” dynamics of the population, where encounters between individuals constitute links in a dynamic social network.…”

Mitochondrial function in development and disease

“…How many mitokines exist and do they exert specificity ( Klaus and Ost, 2020 )? Is intermitochondrial communication within cells akin to microbial quorum sensing ( Williams and George, 2019 )? Although mitochondrial fusion is readily observed in cultured cells, it occurs less frequently in differentiated tissues such as striated muscle, where mitochondria are spatially more confined ( Eisner et al, 2017 , 2014 ; Huang et al, 2013 ), and mitochondrial communication might more frequently involve nanotunnels, membranous tubular protrusions emanating from mitochondrial surfaces ( Vincent et al, 2017 ).…”

Exchange on dynamic encounter networks allows plant mitochondria to collect complete sets of mitochondrial DNA products despite their incomplete genomes

“…There are two coupled instances of emergent behaviour in our system—physical and genetic. First, the encounter network of mitochondria emerges from their underlying physical dynamics in the cell (Williams & George, 2019 ). Second, through exchanges of mtDNA, RNA and/or proteins within this encounter network, a complete set of mtDNA products for each mitochondrion may emerge.…”